Ceramic metal composite for orthopaedic implants
AssigneeSmith & Nephew, Inc.
InventorsShilesh C. Jani, Vivek Devidas Pawar, Carolyn L. Weaver
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Abstract
The invention relates to an orthopedic implant made of a ceramic metal composite. The composite (28, 48, 54) includes one phase that is a biocompatible metal or metal alloy and a second phase of ceramic particles examples of which include carbides, nitrides and/or oxides. In some embodiments, the implant comprises a homogeneous ceramic layer (24) as part of a multi-layered composition. In some embodiments, the multilayered composition comprises a homogeneous metal layer (32).
Claims28
An orthopedic implant component comprising:
- a homogenous composition comprising a metallic species and a secondary phase wherein said secondary phase comprises a ceramic, and wherein the average free distance between ceramic particles is less than the average size of said ceramic particles;
- or,
- a multilayered composition wherein one or more layers comprise a ceramic, a metallic species, or a combination of a ceramic and a metallic species.
A method of making an orthopedic implant component having a graded composition, comprising the steps of:
- mixing powders of ceramic components and metal components to desired ratios to form a first mixture;
- mixing powders of ceramic components and metal components to desired ratios to form a second mixture;
- laying said first mixture on said second mixture to create a first layered mixture;
- optionally mixing powders to form one or more additional mixtures and laying said one or more additional mixtures on said first layered mixture;
- and,
- sintering said first layered mixture or sintering a combination of said first layered mixture and said one or more additional mixtures.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.